Summary: Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man! If you are the leader of a church, youth leader, parent or in any position of authority, watch out, you need to be a good example.

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One false step….

Judges 8:21” Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.”

Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man! If you are the leader of a church, youth leader, parent or in any position of authority, watch out, you need to be a good example. Even one small error can mislead the people. Recently I read an article about an interview between Rev. Billy Graham and John F Kennedy Jr. When Mr. Graham was asked what it was like to preach, Mr. Graham spoke about the great responsibility he faces as he talks to people about eternal things. He referred to fears that he will make a mistake or say something that will mislead people.” Thus should be the holy fear of every Christian! 1 Samuel 12: 23 says “… but I will teach you the good and the right way.” Those who are careless about God’s ways and His Word would surely be punished. Beware!

In the above text, we see Gideon kill the two pagan kings Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. I want to also further mention Gideon’s victory over his enemies as mentioned in the previous chapter Judges 7:25 “And they captured two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.” We see here, Gideon and his army smash the heads of the enemies. Fantastic! However, many of us out of excitement over victory, do something foolish. Observe, Gideon killed the two Midian kings but picked up the ornaments that were on their camel’s necks, probably they were connected to their idol worship, for Ashteroth was represented by the moon, as Baal by the sun. Alas, he destroyed the enemies but picked up dirt from the dust which further defiled the Israelites! Now look what happened, verse 27 says, “Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. “ May be Gideon thought it was no big deal, but his mistake led the entire Israel to forsake the true place of worship. Dear friend, I give here deep Biblical truths, later in the next chapter we see that the seventy sons of Gideon, except his youngest son Jotham, the rest were killed on one stone. Strict warning comes against idol worship!

People in India and in other Asian countries, which are prone to idol worship, mix Eastern religious rituals with worshiping the true Lord. I was shocked to see big

and small lamps kept inside a separate room in a Christian home, along with various idols and they call it a prayer room. Idols are not to be worshiped or kept at home which will mislead people to worship them and also bring curses into that home. Not many Christians are familiar with this chapter in the Bible and hence they do not understand the ways of God. Toe rings, bindi are connected to idol worship; however small, flee from idol worship and sin today!